Well, not really thought: hoped, rather.
Later – in the car on the way back to Sorbinowo – he had tried to recapitulate and home in on any signs of disharmony between the three women – envy, jealousy or something of that sort – but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall any such indications in his interviews.
But then again, he had hardly set out to trap them. On the contrary. He had behaved in a friendly and gentlemanly manner all the time. Just as he always did. So perhaps it was best not to pass judgement.
That could apply to the whole of this damned business, he thought. If it were just a crime novel, it would probably be best for it to remain unwritten – it contained so little of substance.
Mind you, the same could be said of rather a lot of things.
However, here he was, no matter what. Two hundred kilometres from Maardam and eleven days from Crete.
There are waiting rooms and there are waiting rooms, he had just read in Klimke’s meditations. But trains no longer run from most stations.
He decided to investigate that situation as far as Sorbinowo was concerned. He had only seen the station from a distance, but it hadn’t seemed especially lively.
Just as an indication, that is.
He had spoken to two of the girls, and after some thought had chosen to take them together rather than separately. Perhaps that was a symptom of weariness, and perhaps it indicated that he was on the way to giving up – but after Yellinek and his three pale slaves, what could one expect?
He located the right place on the tape, and started it running.
VV:
Would you like to tell me your names – speak loudly so that you can be heard on the tape.
BM:
Belle Moulder.
CH:
Clarissa Heerenmacht.
VV:
Do you know why I want to speak to you?
[Silence. Van Veeteren remembered that the girls had exchanged glances before they both shook their heads in unison.]
VV:
I’m from the police. It’s about that girl who’s disappeared from the camp. Can you tell me what happened?
BM:
Nobody’s disappeared.
CH:
Everybody’s been here all the time.
VV:
How many of you are there?
CH:
Twelve.
VV:
But there were thirteen to start with, weren’t there?
[Short pause.]
BM:
There’s been twelve of us all the time. Stop trying to trick us.
VV:
All right, if you say so. Can you tell me a bit about what you do here during the day?
CH:
We do all sorts of things.
VV:
Such as?
BM:
We go swimming, play games. We have discussion classes and group work and so on.
VV:
You like being here?
BM:
Yes.
CH:
It’s a really fab camp.
BM:
Lots of people think we do lots of strange things here at Waldingen, but we don’t in fact.
VV:
What do people think you do?
BM:
I’ve no idea. But we have a great time anyway. We learn lots of terrific things.
VV:
Really. Can you give me a few examples?
BM:
Well, we learn what’s important in life, how to live together with others, and things like that.
CH:
How to be a good person, and have a pure soul.
VV:
And how do you get a pure soul?
CH:
You get rid of all wicked thoughts.
VV:
How do you do that?
CH:
There are lots of ways. You have to be really, really careful – there’s evil everywhere.
BM:
We’re not supposed to talk about things like this.
CH:
No…
VV:
But I’m interested in learning.
BM:
Then you should talk to Yellinek.
VV:
Why?
BM:
It’s not good for us to talk about these things. We are learning important things, and you come from the Other World.
VV:
The Other World?
BM:
Yes.
VV:
What’s that?
BM:
The Other World is everything that isn’t the Pure Life.
VV:
You don’t say. And how long have you been members of this church?
CH:
How long? Er, forever.
BM:
Since we were very little, at least.
VV:
So your parents are also members, are they?
BM:
Of course. Our brothers and sisters as well. We’re sort of chosen.
VV:
I see. How old are you?
BM:
Fourteen.
CH:
Twelve… Nearly thirteen.
VV:
Do you go to the Pure Life school as well?
BM:
Did do. I’ve been going to an ordinary school for a year now.
CH:
I’ll be starting an ordinary school in the autumn.
BM:
You think there’s something odd about us, don’t you? It’s always the same. What is it you’re trying to find out?
CH:
We’re having a fab time here at Waldingen.
VV:
So I’ve gathered. I suppose it must be hard, going to school in the Other World?
CH:
We have to learn what to do in the Other World as well. How to behave.
BM:
But I don’t think we should talk about that with you either.
VV:
Have you been told what you may and may not talk to me about?
[Silence. A warning look from the elder girl at the younger, if he remembered correctly.]
CH:
No…
VV:
You don’t sound sure.
BM:
Nobody’s told us anything. But we know anyway.
VV:
I see. But there must be some girls who aren’t enjoying the camp as much as you seem to be doing?
BM:
Everybody’s having a great time.
VV:
Everybody?
BM:
Why are you asking? Obviously somebody might get a bit sad now and again. Is that so odd?
CH:
I know everybody thinks it’s great here. What we are doing and learning is important.
VV:
Can you tell me a bit about the three basic principles, prayer, purity and self-denial?
CH:
Those are the basic principles, sort of. That’s what everything is based on.
VV:
What is meant by purity?
CH:
You have to be pure when you meet your God, but I think BM:
You don’t understand all this. If you’re not a member of the church, you shouldn’t start asking lots of questions.
VV:
Do you have to be naked in order to be pure?
CH:
Yes… No.
BM:
No, you don’t have to be, and anyway it’s nothing to do with you.
VV:
Do you have visitors?
BM:
No, it’s not good to have visitors when we’re busy learning.
VV:
But you phone home now and then, I suppose?
CH:
We don’t phone, because BM:
We write letters. That’s just as good.
VV:
So you’re not allowed to use the telephone?
CH:
I suppose we might be, but we don’t.
VV:
What’s the name of the girl who was only here at the beginning?
CH:
Eh? What do you mean by that?
BM:
I think you should stop being so rude. You are accusing us of lots of things you have no idea about. It’s cowardly of you to attack us like this.
VV:
Why don’t you have any boys in your church?